Funny what two people take from the same game! I go along the lines of it was a low scoring tie in open play if you take Bales 2 FK's out of it, which as a rule of thumb I give credit to defences, its not like it was 2 matches full of poor finishing...oh wait!
Re Verts - he'll become another player who's not being utilised to the best of his ability if he plays left back. We've already got holtby playing out of his preferred position due to this situation that stems from our strikers being poor. (Bale having to play up front) - we don't need another player who's not in his strongest role. YV, did u really think umtiti was that bad? I thought the opposite to be honest. I thought he did a great job of keeping us quiet. I was really impressed by him.
I don't remember much of him in the second leg but in the first I thought he was poor, particularly in the first half. He's young so I'm not writing him off but he didn't look good enough to play as first choice for us straight away like's being suggested in the article.
LB has become a big issue. BAE has become a shoe-in, and there is no specialist LB#2 to challenge. Is Rose going to be a competent challenger for the place ??
From his performances for Sunderland, I would suggest that Rose is a better stand-in at LB for us than playing Naughton out of position there. But no way would he be good enough to warrant a regular senior place.
We need a story on LB. If only so that Naughton can get on with the job of fighting for RB and ensuring the Kyles raise their game upwards.
Just seeing what info i can find out from "the twits". (For those of you who are new, or don't remember, it's the In The Know's (ITK) on twitter. - but the ones who seem to have a reputation for being "reliable"*. - (*don't get started on that, please.) It is being suggested that Benny will be gone in the summer. Also, Luke shaw is looking very likely as a new signing, apparently. I'm intrigued by this scenario. Benny hasn't been as good this season IMO, but he's still been decent. He has lapses of concentration and hasn't tracked back as well, but has still shown other good defensive qualities. But there's a lot of speculation that AVB doesn't rate him particularly highly. - I think there is definitely some truth in that, which is why we've seen Naughts and Verts at LB so often. Also, when Ade scored against Everton on Sunday, he ran over to the bench to see Benny and "hi 5" him, completely ignoring anyone else. It seemed odd for a player to do that, almost like the pair of them have teamed up like school children, and something is going on behind the scenes. - Like they were point proving. Might just be "Sceptical Roo" again, but something doesn't seem quite right, and Benny hasn't seemed himself I don't think. Perhaps he's not bothered anymore. I wonder if there might be someone who knows some more about this.......
Benny sails close to the wind even when on his game, there's always an element of risk it seems with things he does, and I think because you never know whats coming next with him, perhaps AVB's nerves aren't ready for Benny's style. As good a player as he is, I can also understand why he wouldn't be every managers cup of tea. Just a thought.
I've unfollowed all the twatty ITK's now mate. Sick of getting my hopes up lol. As for LB situation, I'm a massive fan of Benny, arguably one of his biggest but this season he's been well below par and that's being generous. I do think some of that's down to a possible dispute with AVB, he tweeted a few months back (can't remember the words) something that indicated he may have had some sort of a grizzle towards AVB so I definitely think something's gone on there. The fact Vertonghen and Naughton have been used there quite frequently, both whom play LB as a secondary position, suggests AVB doesn't rate Ekotto much to me. A shame as an on form Benny is up there with the likes of Cole, Evra and Baines in my opinion. As for Luke Shaw I've said previously he looks a great prospect, Soton would want a few quid for him though and I think a lot will also depend on how AVB and the staff rate Rose and Fryers prospects of being ready for our first team.
I seriously don't think I can deal with it anymore, on 31st Jan my heart was beating like a motherfucker only to be let down yet again. I think I should de-activate my Twitter account during the windows
I said the same thing after 3 or 4 windows, every time. But you won't be able to help yourself. Like Spurf says, "The SOS and Roo show" it is! New series, coming soon to a PC near you!
Ahh mate the past two windows have just ruined me! It's not fair lol. I'm currently negotiating my contract, the Mod's need to throw in some calming tablets for when the 31st comes otherwise I reject any involvement of transfer stories
Exactly!! He only returned for the Coventry game in January as far as I remember and since then has not had a run in the side. H has been one of our best and most consistent players for the last couple of years and to be so summarily dismissed, either by fans or management, is not warranted. I don't think for one minute that AVB would be stupid enough to choose Naughton over Benny but if he is I will be viewing my opinion of him......
